AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 13 December 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

RECIPROCAL TRAiDET

IMPORTANT SOUTHERN CONFERENCE.

CPBr Press Association.) OHRISTCHURCH, December 12. A conference of delegates, representing South Island Chambers of Commerce and grain, seed and produce merchants' associations, to discuss the question of reciprocal tra% .benefits between Australia, and New Zealand, lopened this morning in the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Henry Wood was elected chairman. rL4 ruled that the decisions of the conference were, for report only to the Chambers concerned, and not at the present stage to the Government. A motion was unanimously agreed to, that any complete or general measure of free trade between Australia and New Zealand is undesirable, and would not prove acceptable to either country • tSat nevertheless in regard to products of the soil it is desirable to adopt a policy of reciprocity on the .basis that any duties agreed on impose similar conditions and confer equal advantages to each country, and shall 'be sufficiently low so a s not to, press hardly on the consumer in time of scarcity 'in either country; that" it shall Be a condition precedent to the adoption ot any tariff that subject to reasonable Government inspection at the port of shipment the Customs restrictions at-port of entry shall be such as will not cause unnecessary restraint of trade. /• Recommendations agreed upon in regard to tariff alteraions .were as follows:— '; . '■■■•..-•

N. 2. A. P'sed

Wheat, per cental... Oats, per cental ... Beans, per cental ... Peas, per cental ... Maize, per cental... Barley, per cental... .Potatoes, per ton... Chaff, per ton ... Onions, per ton ... Flour, per cental ... Per ten split peas,

s. d. s. d. s. d. 091 6 0 9 0 9 16 0 6 0 9 '1 6 0 9 091 6 0 9 0 9 »1 6 0 9 2 0 2 0 10 20 020 0 10 0 20 0 20 0 10 0 20 020 0 10 0 * O.^l: 0 2 0

per cwt. ... ... ... 2 0 -.4 8.2 0 Per ton pearl barley, ~,.'.'. - per cwt 1; Q'JC'&':&.':6 Malt, per cental .., £.',O '8 -2 — Linseed, per cent^'Free ' 2 0 Pree May, per p)^'-;.™* 0 10 1 0 Free Giitme^j pW 't#n... 20 0 .8 3 4 2 Regal-ding the duty on flour, which1 the conference at first decided should be 30s. per ton,' and Subsequently, altei> ed to the present fate of 205., it was resolved, that in connection with iha proposed flour duty provision 'be made —(1) that the present conditions in the New Zealand Act. providing for '■ combination in restraint of trade, ibe upheld subject'to1 a further provision that the Governor-in-Council shall retain the right to increase the duty payable if it is proved that Australia is making a dumping ground of New Zealand, the offence to be defined "a s selling for New Zealand af lower than Australian current rates." It was decided to recommend that when the tariff was discussed the Chambers-should he asked to appoint an expert to confer with the New Zealand Minister in a consultative capacity.